The past year was a productive one in Stuttgart, according to Stuttgart Mayor Marianne Maynard who gave the annual State of the City address during Tuesday night's Stuttgart City Council meeting.

“Feb. 14 was election day for our 12 item bond issue and it passed with flying colors,” she said of the beginning months in 2012. “Standard and Poor came to visit our city to see what we are really about.”

Standard and Poor is a company whose main function is to rate bonds. The company toured Riceland Foods, Producers Rice Mill, Lennox Industries and Mack's Prairie Wings while in town.

“Thanks to the foresight of Jack Trumper at Stephens for asking them to come to Stuttgart. We got an 'A' rating on our bonds,” Maynard explained.

The vote extended the previous sales tax voters approved in 2005. The money became available on June 6 for needed equipment and updates for each department city wide.

“The biggest problem — everyone wanted to bid out their equipment at the same time,” she said with a laugh. “(We) finally got it spaced out.”

Moving on to other top 2012 items, Maynard said the city hosted two e-waste days.

“Which were very successful!” she said. “Thanks to Lennox, members of the street department, the county and SEAEDD.”

The city along with Stuttgart Unlimited hosted the Arkansas Economic Development Commission for the quarterly meeting at the Grand Prairie Center. The meeting included a tour of Stuttgart businesses including Lennox, Producers, Riceland, Stratton Seed and the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie. It concluded with dinner at Five Oaks.

“A most successful meeting — great tour,” Maynard explained. “Great food and fantastic meeting places. Thanks to Jim (Craig) for coordinating everything and to Suttgart Unlimited for funding the majority of expenses.”

This concluded Maynard’s prepared speech before moving onto each City of Stuttgart department yearly reports. See tomorrow's Daily Leader for the update on each.